Back to school after half term?

[SpringSunshineandTulips]

I really can’t see it. 🥲 4 weeks of this term and then a week of half term. So 5 more weeks. I can’t see that 5 weeks today things will be that different that we are sending our kids back. I really hope I’m wrong though.

OK do I probably have 3 supposed co morbidities which would count as a pre existing condition. All mild and none of them severe enough to allow me to jump thr vaccine queue.
Yet if I was admitted to ICU or died people would see me as one of those with multiple co morbidities but I am not even cv.

I think the vast majority of children are negatively impacted by school closure, sometimes we can’t avoid putting kids through negative experiences, it should be minimised as much as possible. I’m glad that schools are being prioritised over social activities. An education is a very fundamental right of all children in society. Schools need to go back as soon as they can. Once the most vulnerable are vaccinated, many of us will have to accept that there is a risk that we might get ill. Just like we accept many other risks in life

They are not up to vaccinating CEV and over 70s in most areas. The headlines are because the few areas that have done their over 80s and are onto their over 75s have been told they can move on to the next groups without having to wait for other parts of the country to catch up.
Some places have only done 30% of their over 80s and are a long way off group 4 yet (over 70s and CEV)

@SchrodingersUnicorn

They are not up to vaccinating CEV and over 70s in most areas. The headlines are because the few areas that have done their over 80s and are onto their over 75s have been told they can move on to the next groups without having to wait for other parts of the country to catch up. Some places have only done 30% of their over 80s and are a long way off group 4 yet (over 70s and CEV)

Which I guess is why we need to be very careful to take what the papers and the government say, at face value

My nearly 80 year old mum hasn’t been called up yet and it’s v stressful for her to hear how well they’re doing on the CEV group-she thinks they’ve forgotten about her but keeps reading that she shouldn’t ring the surgery.

@RememberSelfCompassion

I'm not quite sure how it works when they start giving the second vaccine to the first lot - won't the rate of new people being given the vaccine slow down?

Second vaccines are being given out now.

More vaccination hubs are opening up to increase capacity.

@SchrodingersUnicorn

They are not up to vaccinating CEV and over 70s in most areas. The headlines are because the few areas that have done their over 80s and are onto their over 75s have been told they can move on to the next groups without having to wait for other parts of the country to catch up. Some places have only done 30% of their over 80s and are a long way off group 4 yet (over 70s and CEV)

I think they’ve actually said they’re starting to send letters out, I expect that process and then to book an appointment will take maybe a week or two, I think it’s about having a constant stream of people ready and waiting. It sounded to me like group 3 and 4 together. So 70-79 and the CEV

@Tryingtryingandtrying

How can people thinks kids are better off with no face to face learning. The isolation alone is doing damage to children. Schools will be the first things to reopen.

Completely agree - whatever you think of the curriculum / school environment etc. we know children need to socialize and play with other children.

Most of the people I know using key worker places for slightly tenuous reasons are justifying it as being "best for their DC". They think being in school is better and if the option is there they are going to take it.

I know someone in the over 80s category who had her first vaccination before Christmas and had her second one 10 days ago. My dad had his last week and was told he would be contacted in three months for his second one.

Some of children do not prefer learning on line , they struggle at school.
Maybe not many but it's not a Blanket black and white situation.

• DO prefer learning on line.

I'm hoping the schools will go back as the vaccine rollout continues, but I'm not optimistic and have usually been wrong before. My children's school has 38% of the children in compared to 3% in the spring lockdown, and all the teachers and TAs are in every day, which seems to defeat the object of closing them.

Plan for Easter return and anything earlier is a bonus

I reckon some kind of phased return could be managed after half term with some creative thinking.

Definitely for secondary age students. But there would have to be an acknowledgement that teens can spread the virus and school as normal is not fully safe. I'd aim to get in one year group a day, maybe, in secondary- for some school contact and to support kids with online learning- ideally in proper bubbles and with proper social distancing.

For primaries it is trickier because there are so many key worker/other kids in. I think a decision would have to be made about whether to prioritise that childcare, or to prioritise mental health and wellbeing for all students.

I think the all or nothing approach will see schools stay closed longer than they need to- with more and more kids coming in as "key worker" children, widening the divide between those in school and those at home.

I also think the insistence on schools opening first is flawed- we showed over the summer lots of things can open safely if schools are not fully open.

And yes, some kids are thriving, learning online. For example, I teach a few students with anxiety who would never contribute an answer in class, but they will type it into the chat on a live lesson which is great!

My own DC are so much happier than they were in school at the end of the autumn term-everyone was in a permanent state of stress almost waiting to be identified as close contacts and sent home (all were, at least once) and they are so grateful being at home learning in the warm! The schools were so cold in November/December due to all the windows having to be open. I’m fairly certain they are learning better now, sitting trying to write in the cold-all day every day- was making them pretty miserable.

@SansaSnark

And yes, some kids are thriving, learning online. For example, I teach a few students with anxiety who would never contribute an answer in class, but they will type it into the chat on a live lesson which is great!

It's a shame with DS, he's just started yr 7 and his teachers have been fabulous with building his confidence so much that he actually offered answers in class - huge thing for him! He's now back hidden behind a screen and quiet . Hope they get back ASAP and he can pick up where he left off!

Year 7 have had it tough, my dd was year 7 last march it's a huge transition for them, so much to get used too.

I also think the insistence on schools opening first is flawed- we showed over the summer lots of things can open safely if schools are not fully open.

Which was a disgraceful situation never to be repeated. A percentage of children shut out of the classroom from March to September 'for the good of the community' so people could go to the pub and plan trips away.

I'm all for those things being possible after schools open but schools must open to all first.

Well, my kids are miserable at home.

My year 7 DC - how on Earth are they supposed to make new friends and settle into a new school when they're not in school?
Year 2 DC is struggling because I am trying to WFH FT and honestly, it's not possible to do both things at once and do them well.

Schools need to open first.

@Carlislemumof4

I also think the insistence on schools opening first is flawed- we showed over the summer lots of things can open safely if schools are not fully open.

Which was a disgraceful situation never to be repeated. A percentage of children shut out of the classroom from March to September 'for the good of the community' so people could go to the pub and plan trips away.

I'm all for those things being possible after schools open but schools must open to all first.

Totally agree!

My sister is a teacher and they are planning for Easter at her school.

@BungleandGeorge

I think the vast majority of children are negatively impacted by school closure, sometimes we can’t avoid putting kids through negative experiences, it should be minimised as much as possible. I’m glad that schools are being prioritised over social activities. An education is a very fundamental right of all children in society. Schools need to go back as soon as they can. Once the most vulnerable are vaccinated, many of us will have to accept that there is a risk that we might get ill. Just like we accept many other risks in life

I disagree, I think the government needs to accept that families can expect to make their own choices based on their children’s mental health and physical health concerns. It’s not a time for blanket guidance. My children are happier learning at home than they would’ve worrying about bringing covid home. I can completely see how other families would arrive at different decisions and wouldn’t want to bully them into doing what I’m doing. Equally I won’t be bullied and will act in the best interests of my family.

You aren’t under any obligation to send your child to school at any time if you don’t want to. Not sure were bullying comes into it? I choose to send mine to school but that choice has been taken away. I wouldn’t call it bullying though as I accept it’s the best option considering everyone’s needs. When the infection rate is lower schools need to revert to what is normally provided.

We absolutely are under obligation to semd our children to school if we want to keep their school places. We're already talking about delaying our kids return if the govt decide to send before group 6 (me) are vaccinated and its had the 2 weeks to work. However weve already had a letter about unauthorised absence for the first day of term in Jan....